McLaughlin promoted

Captain Jed McLaughlin was promoted to his present rank at the June 4 meeting of the Ridgecrest City Council. Chief Ron Strand said it was bittersweet saying goodbye to the retiring Capt. Paul Wheeler, but that he was happy to see McLaughlin take Wheeler’s place. “I have all the confidence in the world he’s going to do a good job,” said Strand. “This wouldn’t be possible without an awesome family,” McLaughlin said of his wife, Katherine, and their three boys.